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Arthur Wilson (baptised 14 December 1595 – October 1652) was a 17th-century English playwright, historian and poet. Born a commoner, he worked as a gentleman-in-waiting and steward to several powerful Parliamentarians in the period up to the
English Civil War The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...
. He is remembered as a minor playwright, who wrote several plays for London's
Blackfriars Theatre Blackfriars Theatre was the name given to two separate theatres located in the former Blackfriars Dominican priory in the City of London during the Renaissance. The first theatre began as a venue for the Children of the Chapel Royal, child ...
, and as the author of ''The History of Great Britain, being the Life and Reign of King James I'', which documents the anti-Stuartism prevalent in the late
Caroline era The Caroline era is the period in English and Scottish history named for the 24-year reign of Charles I of England, Charles I (1625–1649). The term is derived from ''Carolus'', Latin for Charles. The Caroline era followed the Jacobean era, the ...
.


Biography

Wilson was born in
Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth ( ), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside resort, seaside town which gives its name to the wider Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. Its fishing industry, m ...
, England, the son of John Wilson and his wife Suzan, according to the baptismal register, but of Richard Wilson, according to an entry in the matriculation register at
Trinity College, Oxford Trinity College (full name: The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope (Knight)) is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in E ...
, which he later attended. In the 1620–1625 period he served as secretary to
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, KB, PC (; 11 January 1591 – 14 September 1646) was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the 17th century. With the start of the Civil War in 1642, he became the first Captai ...
, whom he accompanied on military campaigns on the Continent. Despite getting on well with Essex for 15 years, Wilson was dismissed when the earl's second wife took up against him. Thereafter Wilson received a monthly pension from Essex and the opportunity for a formal education. At the age of 35, he entered
Oxford University The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...
(1631–1633) to study first medicine and then religion. Dismayed by the rampant corruption among the clergy, he left the university and later entered the service of Essex's cousin,
Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, praise, reno ...
, as a steward. He returned to Essex's service for the
English Civil War The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...
. Wilson had a reputation as an adventurer. His autobiographical ''Observations of God's Providence, in the Tract of my Life,'' records some of his adventures, such as his 1642 rescue of Elizabeth Savage, Countess Rivers from anti-Catholic rioters.


Works


Theatre

Wilson's autobiography contains observations on the private theatrical performances conducted in aristocratic households in the 17th century. He himself is likely to have written several plays for private entertainments during his tenure with Essex. He recounts several instances of his work being performed at the home of Essex's grandmother, the Countess of Leicester. Only three of these plays have survived: the tragicomedy ''The Inconstant Lady,'' premiered by the King's Men at the royal palace at Hampton Court in London on 30 September 1630, '' The Swisser'' premiered at London's
Blackfriars Theatre Blackfriars Theatre was the name given to two separate theatres located in the former Blackfriars Dominican priory in the City of London during the Renaissance. The first theatre began as a venue for the Children of the Chapel Royal, child ...
in 1631, and ''The Corporal,'' also performed by the King's Men at Blackfriars and is speculatively dated to 1633. Though it is clear that Wilson wrote ''The Inconstant Lady'' while still in service with Essex, it is unclear whether his latter two plays were completed during that period or his time at Oxford. Dating is difficult, because none of the plays were published during the 17th century and ''The Corporal'' has survived only in a fragmentary manuscript that ends with Act II, scene 1. The other two dramas remained in manuscript until later publication: ''The Inconstant Lady'' in 1814 and ''The Swisser'' in 1904. ''The Swisser'' was performed in 1631 by the King's Men at the
Blackfriars Theatre Blackfriars Theatre was the name given to two separate theatres located in the former Blackfriars Dominican priory in the City of London during the Renaissance. The first theatre began as a venue for the Children of the Chapel Royal, child ...
. The manuscript preserves a cast list for that original production – significant as one of only seven cast lists for the company that survive from the later 1620s or early 1630s.


History

Wilson's notable ''The History of Great Britain, being the Life and Reign of King James I'' was published in 1653, a year after his death. Indeed, none of Wilson's literary efforts made it into print in his lifetime. Wilson was not an admirer of the
House of Stuart The House of Stuart, originally spelled Stewart, also known as the Stuart dynasty, was a dynasty, royal house of Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland and later Kingdom of Great Britain, Great ...
, as his history reveals. He reflects negatively on various figures in the Stuart era, including Sir
Francis Bacon Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (; 22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I. Bacon argued for the importance of nat ...
.


Poetry

Wilson also wrote verse. His "Upon Mr. J. Donne and his Poems" has been considered one of the better elegies on the poet and was printed in the first collection of
John Donne John Donne ( ; 1571 or 1572 – 31 March 1631) was an English poet, scholar, soldier and secretary born into a recusant family, who later became a clergy, cleric in the Church of England. Under Royal Patronage, he was made Dean of St Paul's, D ...
's poems as a tribute.''Poems by John Donne with elegies of the author’s death''
pp.397-9
/ref>


References


External links



{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Arthur 17th-century English dramatists and playwrights 17th-century English historians 1595 births 1652 deaths English male dramatists and playwrights English male non-fiction writers